• Our 2004 activities supported the following: 
  

  CASA JOSE COLTRO (Job Training Center)

  • 157 teenagers finished computer classes and are ready for office jobs.

  • 112 children received daily general education.

  • 107 adults received computer training.

  • 120 pregnant mothers received orientation on breast feeding, immunization, and baby care during the once a week/three month classes.  Each received one layette at the end of the class.

  • 4200 meals were cooked each month at the facilities and served to all the students.

  • 80 families experiencing unemployment or sickness were helped with a basic food basket for the month.

  • 280 Christmas packages (toys, clothes, and hygiene supplies) were given to children.

  In 2005 they are keeping the same pace and have already added an extra class of 45 students in an attempt to reduce the 400-child waiting line.

  We have two new projects: The Dental Office and The Small Bakery, and are still looking for partners to support both.

   LAR DE ISMAEL (Orphanage)

  • Twenty-eight children received lots of love and attention for all their basic needs, education, and health.  Of the 28, nineteen children still remain in the orphanage waiting for the completion of the adoption process.

  • We are in the process of to developing computer classes for the children of the orphanage and for teenagers from the area.

   

• Article about HeartsInAction in the Milwaukee's Journal Sentinel:

http://www.jsonline.com/news/wauk/jun04/237432.asp

• I am Débora Aparecida da Silva Oliveira, born in Sao Paulo in 1973, married and have one son. I started in 1990 at Casa Jose Coltro attending the typing and basic office courses. At the same time I was attending public school in the afternoon. In the beginning of 1995 I left Casa to work for a publisher and after that I went to work for PBR Construction Company as an administrative assistant. Today I give the proper value of the help I had at Casa Coltro, when I really needed in that period of my life. I matured as a person and today recognize that if I accomplished something in my professional life it is due to Casa Coltro. The best of all is to see that a non profit organization like Casa Coltro give so many opportunities for so many people like me. Today I am proud to say that I am back, now as a volunteer director of the entity….not simply giving the fish, but teaching people how to fish.
  
  
• I am Adriano, 13 years old, and I started to attend the Casa Jose Coltro when I was 7. Casa Coltro is a place where I feel safe, have fun and learn how to be a good person, have discipline, respect others and be a citizen. By learning the right things I can resist the trouble in the streets. I have a decent meal daily, a place to do my school homework, have art classes, including painting, craft making and music
  
  

• Hi, I am Ione Rodrigues Dias, and when I was 17 when I was introduced to the Casa Coltro by a friend, who was very happy with her basic office and administration course there, and at that time I was working on a sweat shop painting candles. Today I can say that to join Casa Coltro was the best decision in my life. Short after starting my course there I was selected to be the leader of my class. I learned to work in group, respect others opinions, and for our graduation I was selected to be the class speaker. Soon after the graduation I found a job and I am still working as administrative assistant. Today at the age of 19, I am in college studying in the Human Resources area. Casa Coltro was responsible for my first job and taught me how to keep my balance and progress in my life.
  
  
• My name is Eliseu Batista and I have 8 siblings. I have been at Casa Coltro for 4 years, and started there at the age of 8. Myself and my brother Marcilio enjoy very much to be there, where we stay for half day doing our school home work and attending a class that teach us to make crafts. We have our daily lunch there and my family also received food assistance when my father was unemployed. The teachers are great , and we love to attend the monthly birthday parties of the students.
• I Rosangela da Silva, have volunteered at Casa Coltro for 14 years. I started to help in the “Club of Mothers” in supporting pregnant teens and future mothers in desperate situations. We teach sewing, stitching and knitting. Being a person without resources, Casa Coltro has given me the opportunity to be helped by helping others, feel useful and learn by attending the courses available.
  
  
  
• I am Priscila Pereira Carneiro and I have been at Casa Coltro since the year 2000. I attended classes and graduated from basic office practices course.  This was very important for me not only professionally, but also because I have grown as a person. I decided to stay at Casa Coltro to work and share my knowledge with the new students.  Especially when I teach classes of telemarketing. I am very happy because I know exactly what they fell when I see their enthusiasm.